Archive for August, 2010

Looking to incorporate more Omega’s into you and your child’s diet? Give this recipe a try! It contains walnuts and flax, both considered to be “brain food” because of their high concentration of omega-3 fats. Your brain is more than 60% structural fat. For your child’s (and your) brain cells to function properly, this structural fat needs to be primarily the omega-3 fats found in walnuts and flax seed. This is because the membranes of all our cells, including our brain cells or neurons, are primarily composed of fats. Cell membranes are the gatekeepers of the cell. Anything that wants to get into or out of a cell must pass through the cell’s outer membrane. And omega-3 fats, which are especially fluid and flexible, make this process a whole lot easier, thus maximizing the cell’s ability to usher in nutrients while eliminating wastes–definitely a good idea, especially when the cell in question is in your brain.

I whipped the recipe below morning and Roku loves it! The only down side that it is a little greasy and crumbles, so I just pop the balls into his mouth by hand. Let me know what you think!

Brainy Ball Snack

2 c. walnuts
1/4c. ground flax seed
5 dates, soaked and pitted

Grind/mix all ingredients in food processor. Add more dry ingredients if too wet to roll in balls. Roll into bite-sized balls and enjoy! I refrigerate them, but you can dehydrate them on a low setting if you like.